Won't you take me to ... Shanty Town?!
Wednesday 10 January @ 16:27:08 |
 by BETSY MOWRY
It was a dark, dark night, and on that dark, dark night, there was a dark, dark lake, and on that dark, dark lake, there was some moderately cold, cold ice, and on that moderately cold, cold ice, there was…an Art Shanty! Don't be afraid, it's just art, and ice houses, and tap dancers, and zombies and art cars, melded into one really cool art encounter done the way only Minnesotans can.
 Sponsored by the Soap Factory, the Art Shanty Project was launched four years ago as the creative concept of Peter Haakon Thompson and David Pitman. It has since evolved into an inspired community arts experience. Haakon Thompson and Pitman bravely foraged through red tape, permits and grant applications in to make the program viable on an ongoing basis--and to pay artists in the process. So what used to be a lone art shanty constructed by Haakon Thompson and Pitman on Medicine Lak, now involves more than 65 artists. This year for the first time, Pitman and Haakon Thompson selected a limited number of participants from a pool of proposals.
"Part gallery, part residency and part social experiment inspired by the tradition of ice fishing and ice fishing houses used in the Minnesota winter," the Art Shanties have taken root in a big way. Each year the event gains momentum and notoriety, and is swiftly becoming a winter tradition.
According to Pitman, the shanties allow artists to create public art by their own volition, counteracting the usual committee-based approach to aesthetics and materials. Participants are limited only by common sense and legal parameters. Of course, the program has become more than just an artist-focused experiment; community members enjoy the display, and individuals of all disciplines have come out to perform and participate. The shantytown balances both organized, scheduled events and informal happenings on site.
During the next five weeks visitors can expect to see 20 different Art Shanties, including "The Knitting Shanty," "The Pinhole Camera Shanty," "The Lincoln Log Cabin," "The Shanty of Misfit Toys," "The Cactus Conservatory" and "The Norae Shanty." Without a doubt, these structures are as varied and unique as the artists themselves. Haakon Thompson is present, but is displayed with a different name and theme each year. Pitman also participates by broadcasting his radio station: 97.7 "K-ICE" on the lake. Certainly lonely ice fishermen appreciate Pitman's captivating banter as they shiver and await their big catch.
Due to the warm winter, the Art Shanties will likely spend some time on the beach for safety reasons, but the project will proceed as planned. This is only a slight deviation in the agenda, and weather challenges are certainly no surprise to Minnesotans. Once the temperature drops and the ice freezes, art cars will help transport excited viewers and back seat drivers to each of the locations, while an assortment of creative activities unfold. The Art Shanty project kicks off this Saturday, Jan. 13, with activities beginning at 10:00 a.m. and running throughout the afternoon. The program runs through Feb. 17. ||
The Art Shanty Project is located on the beach at Medicine Lake near Plymouth. Further information can be found at www.artshantyprojects.org or by contacting Peter Haakon Thompson at 612-205-6710/ phaakon@bitstream.net or David Pitman at 612-669-0847/davidpitman@mac.com.
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